In theory, yes - but there are entire armies of marketing and sales people who'll use every trick in the book to convince your fickle brain otherwise.

That depends on what it is. Food, shelter, electricity, water, healthcare, and transportation are inelastic[1] - we buy them regardless of price because we can't live without them. Whether or not we can afford them is largely irrelevant.

Also, don't underestimate change. Buying a house or a car that you can afford now is one thing, but that doesn't mean things won't change in a way that means you can't afford them in the future. Things happen that can negatively impact your income.

[1] http://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/inelastic.asp

Well, sure getting into debt to begin with doesn't make you a victim ... but there's definitely some opportunity for victimization once they go into default; it's an opaque process that most people don't know enough about up front. Think 30% penalty-APRs on your credit cards or five-figure collection fees tacked onto student loan debts. To what extent is this the real price of the risk and prices you're exposing the lenders to, and to what extent is it simply exploitation? A clear answer is hard to come by.

That depends what the something is. Of course you don't need a 42" TV when you can't afford it, but whether you have money in the bank or not you'll still need to eat, and travel to work.

Just like millions of Americans conscientiously choose to not buy food and life-saving medical care each day!

Life isn't always as simple as "don't buy more things".

If one is unemployed, can't find a job for x amount of time, do you think it is acceptable to use credit cards to survive during that period of time?

Maybe if you have no dependents and never get ill.

If you have a family to support or have a period of illness, credit is very hard to avoid.